6 Declining Dog Breeds (Slideshow)

get healthy living updates

Just like jeans and hairstyles, dog breeds go in and out of style. In the 1960s and 1970s, poodles were the United States’ most popular breed; today, labs reign supreme. Mastiffs and pit bulls are on the rise, but not every dog breed is so lucky. Click through to check out some of the dog breeds that are falling out of favor.

I feel proper breeding has a lot more to do with some of this than heredity - I have had pugs, the last 2 I got as adults. I never had a problem with breathing, or with the eyes "popping out" as some have mentioned. I did notice that when looking at pics of properly - bred pugs that the eyes are not overly prominent, regardless of what the breed standards mention.
Also, on a hot day pugs are likely to be under a tree, or in air conditioning - I remember my male pug living with my mom and I in a mobile home with evaporative cooling (swamp cooler) - he would perhaps lay on his back sometimes on the tile floor, or sometimes in front of a fan - like any other dog - neither pug seemed to have problems breathing.

side note, many "breeds" end up with health issues since people think smushed faces are cute (major breathing/eating issues) or think shorter legs are endearing (hip issues, walking/jumping problems) We need to leave them alone. This whole breeding frenzy is pointless, whatever happened to having a dog to have a healthy, happy loyal friend to give extra love to?